A Wyoming teenager, previously charged with attempted first-degree murder for stabbing his sleeping mother, will now plead guilty to a lesser charge. The incident occurred when Tharles Smith was 17 years old, and he stabbed his mother, Karla Smith, 42, in the shoulder blade in June 2024. The family had been in a dispute over the teenager’s living arrangements if he continued to disregard household rules. His parents reported to the police that he had once threatened his mother, saying he was waiting until he was strong enough to kill her.
Court documents reveal that Tharles Smith was set to be tried as an adult for the crime. However, his defense team requested a pause in the proceedings until the teenager underwent a mental evaluation. Now 18, Tharles Smith is set to plead guilty to attempted second-degree murder.
The family conflict over Tharles Smith’s behavior had been ongoing for several years before the attack on his mother. He had allegedly threatened to kill both his parents multiple times and had displayed cruelty towards animals, which he claimed was a joke. Reports paint a picture of a troubled teenager and desperate parents seeking a solution for his behavior. Karla Smith had her son institutionalized when he was 16, but this seemed to only worsen his anger issues.
On the night of the attack, Tharles Smith was reportedly angry over his parents’ attempts to move him out of their home. He told the police that he was too angry to sleep that night and felt his parents were trying to abandon him. While his parents were asleep, he took an 8-inch blade from the kitchen, entered their bedroom, and stabbed his mother in the back near her shoulder blade.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help Karla Smith with her medical expenses. She initially thought her son had punched her, but he corrected her, saying he had stabbed her. To raise funds, Karla Smith also raffled off her son’s pig, using the proceeds for her medical bills. The stabbing resulted in two broken ribs, a punctured scapula, and a collapsed lung for Karla Smith. She spent two days in intensive care, with her doctor stating she was fortunate to have survived.
Almost a year after the attack, Tharles Smith is set to plead guilty to attempted second-degree murder. His sentencing is expected later this year.